SC Ping
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Posted on 06/09/2004 5:33:55 PM PDT by Theodore R.
South Carolina's GOP Senate Primary Forces Beasley Into Runoff NewsMax.com Wires
Wednesday, June 9, 2004 Hoping for a political comeback, former South Carolina Gov. David Beasley found himself unable to clinch a primary victory and was forced into a runoff in his bid to win the Republican nomination for one of the nation's most closely watched Senate seats. Tuesday's primary put Beasley up against three-term Rep. Jim DeMint in the GOP's effort to grab the longtime Democrat seat held by retiring Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings. Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum won the Democrats' nomination.
Beasley got 37 percent of the vote, or 107,432 votes; DeMint got 26 percent, or 77,331 votes.
The South Carolina race was the most hotly contested of seven primaries, including Montana's GOP primary for an open governor's seat, where moderate Secretary of State Bob Brown defeated an anti-tax conservative, and a Virginia race where seven-term Democrat Rep. Jim Moran easily beat a challenger who criticized Moran's comments as anti-Semitic.
The rest - Iowa, Maine, New Jersey and North Dakota - saw mostly noncompetitive primaries.
But in South Carolina, Hollings' decision to retire after seven terms, all of them in the shadow of GOP Sen. Strom Thurmond, who retired last year at 100 and died a few months later, set off a GOP scramble. The seat is one of five held by Democrats in the South to come open this year, an opportunity for the GOP to add to its 51-48 control of the Senate.
Democrats rallied behind Tenenbaum, who has been elected twice as education superintendent.
For Beasley, it was an opportunity for resurrection. He was defeated in 1998 after one term where he angered tradition-minded voters by calling for lowering the Confederate flag from atop the Statehouse, and then fueled a deep-pocketed opposition by trying to ban video poker.
Those efforts cost him the election. Both became reality under his Democrat successor.
The critics haven't forgotten, with updated bumper stickers that say "Dump Beasley Again."
But Beasley said he was not worried. "Who would have thought we could make a comeback like this?" he said Tuesday. "The experts said we couldn't do it."
In two weeks, he'll face DeMint, who has staked out his support for U.S. trade policies, a stance that has cost him support among those in the state's hard-hit textile industry.
Like the other Republicans, DeMint supported the Bush administration on the war in Iraq and on its tax cuts. He embraced the runoff. "Mission one is accomplished. We're in the playoffs."
Tenenbaum ran as a conservative, backing the death penalty, the decision to invade Iraq and a ban on gay marriage. "I've always run an independent race," she said. "In the last two races, I received more votes than anyone else, Democrat or Republican, on the ballot."
In Virginia, Moran swept away a challenge from political newcomer Andrew Rosenberg, who said he was inspired to run by Moran's comments that "leaders of the Jewish community" helped drive the Iraq war. Moran had apologized.
In Montana, where GOP Gov. Judy Martz chose not to seek re-election after a single term that saw dismal approval ratings, Brown refused to rule out tax increases. Newcomer Pat Davison built strong support among conservatives with his anti-tax platform.
With nearly all precincts reporting, Brown led with 38 percent of the vote to Davison's 24 percent. The winner will go up against Democrat Brian Schweitzer.
I gather this means she is really a liberal and ardently in favor of abortion-on-demand.
Tenenbaum is inheriting the mantle of Hollings, who will work hard for her election. And Ernest F. Hollings, I don't believe, has ever lost a SC election, has he? People there adore him.
DeMint picked up the endorsement of Ravenel, who finished a close third, today. It's going to be a close one.
Being from SC I can tell you that hollings was elected before the Rats turned so left.
SC is VERY CONSERVATIVE trust me
Why is Ravenel anti-Beasley, just wondering?
Which of the candidates is the more forceful campaigner: DeMint or Beasley? I got the impression that Beasley is low-key and not that hard of a campaigner, but I could be wrong.
Beasley is a wishy-washy guy. During the 1980's he was the SC House Majority Leader as a RAT. In 1994, when he couldn't have the RAT nomination for Governor locked up in advance, he switched to the GOP and ran for Governor there. He was able to win the GOP primary with Carol Campbell's support.
I am here and active in South Carolina.
Tenenbaum is our version of Nancy Pelosi if not worse. She has to be beaten.
Beasly is a former Clemson liberal, a registered Democrat, who switched long enough to win the governship ten years ago but acted as such a liberal during his term that we conservatives turned on him and ran him out of office ... voting instead for a moderate Democrat. Beasly told so many stories (translate lies) from being an ex-baseball player to keeping the Confederate flag above the State House and everthing in between - including a major battle between video poker and the lottery people, et al. He was despised by the Republican Party by the time he was outsted and replaced by moderate Dem Jim Hodges.
DeMint is the man and with Ravenel's support behind him and with Grahmn and others getting onboard as well I truly believe that DeMint will win this thing in the runoff and eventually beat Inez "Pelosi" Tenenbaum.
Russ
Beasley defeated Ravenel's father in the GOP Governor primary in 1994.
Ted-
In 1994, Tom Ravenel's dad (Arthur, then a Congressman from Charleston) decided to run for Governor.
Beasley beat Ravenel in the run-off. The primary and run-off was a testy event and the Ravenels held a grudge against Beasley.
Thanks for explaining the Ravenel-Beasley rivalry. It could also be that the Ravenels consider Beasley a "Johnny-come-lately" to the GOP. The fact that Ravenel endorsed DeMint immediately made me think there was some personal rivalry there.
Beasley is a wishy-washy guy.
Sounds like you just gave a good reason for conservatives to support DeMint; still I think name ID could give the nomination to Beasley.
::::::Theodore R. wrote: Tenenbaum is inheriting the mantle of Hollings, who will work hard for her election. And Ernest F. Hollings, I don't believe, has ever lost a SC election, has he? People there adore him.::::::
Not true. There is a small segement of the state's population that adhores him perhaps - in heavily liberal and transient Charleston and in Orangeburg County ... but the remainder of the state has tired of Fritz in this last term of his where his true colors showed and he attacked Bush in the spirit of the Teddy Kennedy and others. Fritz will not help Peolosi, errrr Tenenbaum.
Russ
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I voted for Ravenel. I did not know about Beasley being a Rat in the 80s. I thought he was a conservative Christian. I am very confused now on who to vote for in the runoff. I can't stand DeMint because he voted for Nafta and SC has been hurt in the textile industry because of it. Please, anyone, educate me on Beasley/ DeMint.
Keep in mind that before the coming of Gov. Carol Campbell, the GOP was similar to a 3rd party. If conservatives wanted their votes to count for something, they voted in the RAT primary. Back then, conservatives were welcome in the RAT party. But not any more.
I would imagine that it is important to Hollings that he get a Democrat elected to succeed him: the same as with Graham in FL, Breaux in LA, and Edwards in NC, but not the case with Miller in GA. Some of these southern Democrat senators are so powerful that they can dictate their successors.
SC is very conservative, but there's a lot of anti-Demint sentiment in the upstate. Tenenbaum has a lot of name recognition. So many vote a straight Repub ticket, but I don't think 2004 is going to be a cakewalk for the GOP...
I was a registered Dem in Texas lo these many years ago, because you simply had no say in local elections unless you were--I don't believe having been a Dem when there were conservative Dems is a disqualification.
"Free Trade" has hurt many southern Bush states.
Forgive me if I stray into crudeness, but THIS SUCKS!!! Control of the U.S. Senate is at stake, and Republicans are saddled with a runoff between two second-tier candidates. The unfortunate voters in South Carolina have to choose between a failed ex-Governor with a gift for gaffe, and an elitest stuffed shirt who supports free trade. Both candidates fell short of expectations, which reflects badly on them. How could Karl Rove have let this happen?
Can everybody now say "Senator Tennenbaum"?
"SC is VERY CONSERVATIVE trust me"
I just returned from SC yesterday and was looking for an opportunity to mention on FR about all the "Veterans Against John Kerry" bumper stickers I saw while there. Made my vacation even better!
I voted for Ravenel. I thought he had something special. He may still make a name for himself. He is still really young. I guess I will have to vote for Demint. There is just something about Beasley.
DeMint strength lies with educated suburban voters. Beasley's strength lies with rural communities. If only we could mesh these two men together, then we would have the perfect candidate.
As a Clemson grad, I can ASSURE you that it is one of the most conservative schools in the country
Interesting point. But I'm afraid that DeMint's stance on trade is an albatross. Outsourcing is even more unpopular in South Carolina than gay marriage.
Nodding in agreement. I fear the Burr/Bowles contest will be a huge blame game: Who caused more job losses - Clinton or Bush?
Ping!
Your wisdom is really needed on this one.
Orangeburg (where I live) hasn't elected a GOP'er to ANY local seat since 1990, and only has carried just ONE Republican in recent years when a Democrat faces him -- Joe Wilson (US House District 2). (Wilson was 3:1 against a Dem in the 2001 special election. The late Floyd Spence also carried the county when there were no Dem challengers.) Democrats hold all elected offices in Orangeburg, Calhoun, and Bamberg Counties. In 1994, the Democrats took out the late Republican seats, and they've increased taxes heavily and spent more on pork prjects.
Ironically, Sumter's Harold Miller just bought virtually all radio stations in all three counties and took news, sports, and Rush Limbaugh off the airwaves in the three-county area in favour of music.
I live in DeMint's district, and he is not as good a campaigner as Beasley is. DeMint hates the retail politics, and Beasley pushes for every Vote. For those of you who were not here in 1994, he came from 2% in the polls in Feb of 1994 to first in the primary and winner in the Run off. He has always had the Establishment part of the party against him(except Gov Campbell), and yet he still wins.
Frankly, it is not that difficult to out work Cong DeMint.
Sen Graham is not going to Endorce DeMint. For starters it would kill him in the lowcountry, second why should he. DeMint polled 47% in his home county of Greenville, and lost all the other Upstate counties to Beasley, even the other counties in his own CD. If he cannot carry the counties in his own CD how is he going to win state wide?
Frankly, outside of Greenville, Lexington and parts of Charleston, Republicans were a rare breed in SC until 1994 when many Dems started bailing the Demo party because of Clinton's Liberal stands. There are still parts of SC that are conservative and still vote Dem on the local elections, the Pee Dee and some of the smaller counties gripe every time closing the primies are brought up. Anderson is still going through the transition with some of the Conservative Dems becoming Republicans, in Greenwood county it is just now possible for a Rep to win a State house seat, and in Dillon county, Reps cannot get elected.
Besides, if Being a former Dem in this state keeps someone from being elected to state office (if conservative) we would not have many of our current and former office holders.
Call me crazy, but I think DeMint wins. If a former Governor (high name ID, views well known) only gets 37% in what was basically a 3 man race, how is he going to pick up so many more votes elsewhere?
Frankly, it's embarrassing that a loser like Beasley can finish 1st in a runoff after his 1998 showing. He took a slam dunk race against a low-quality opponent and managed to botch it. We need to win this Senate race. We may only retain the Senate by 1 vote. We can't afford to nominate a proven loser in a race we need to win.
Let me also address the free trade issue here. Protectionism is economics for the ignorant. Free trade creates a whole lot more jobs than it costs. No trade takes place unless both sides benefit - or else one or both sides would pull out.
Free trade creates a market to export goods, creating jobs in those industries. It also allows consumers to save money on their purchases - which allows them to make more purchases, creating more jobs. Unless you build your own home, grow your own food, make your own clothes, etc, then you understand the benefits of free trade whether you realize it or not.
Yah, but he wasn't ever elected as a Democrat.
Wanna know who was? Phil Graham.
I'm not really sure which one of these guys I like best, but the anti-Beasley crowd has struck me as being mostly hype, and based on emotion rather then logic.
I'm actually leaning Demint for other reasons, but I wouldn't believe the anti-Beasley bots.
Burr is going to trash Bowles. Mark my words.
Burr is good looking, and someone who campaigns at a lunatic pace. Bowles isn't good looking, and isn't that strong of a campaigner.
Furthermore, Bowles got 45% of the vote last time. He has NEVER polled over 45% of the vote from the 5 or so polls I've seen. He's gotta pick up 5%+1 to win. No way.
Burr loses if something bad happens on a national scale, and Bush gets crushed. If not, he wins.
While I'm at it, I'm actually a lot more worried about SC now then NC. It seems that every person in the race had baggage.
Beasley's won statewide, but also lost statewide. He's got the whole flag issue.
DeMint isn't the greatest campaigner and is from the wrong part of the state, especially considering that Graham is from the same side.
Ravenell has no political experience.
Condan can't seem to win contested primaries etc.
Now, we are left with the two most experienced, but possibly largest baggage candidates.
I still think we are favored in the end, due to the fact that if Bush is caught sacrificing a virgin to the devil he'll still win SC, but I'm starting to think this is going to be a really tough race.
I think Lousiana is going to be really tough. If we only have 1 R on the ballot, it's 50/50. If we end up having another even a 1-2% R on the ballot, and it goes to December, we probably lose.
Florida is in the bag if Mel Martinez is the nominee. It's 45/55 against us if McCollum is.
Georgia is a sure thing if Isakson is the nominee. It's almost a sure thing with Cain or Collins. (In the primary, my mind says Isakson, my heart says Cain. I don't like Collins much.)
All said and done, we pick up 3 or 4 southern seats, but probably not all. Now, if we can keep our losses to our open seats down to 1 or 2 (Unfortunately, I think Alaska is trending against us, Illinois too, but we won't lose Oaklahoma or Colorado), and we'll be up 1. Every incumbent we knock off is gravy from that point, and I have extremely high hopes for Washington and South Dakota. I wouldn't put a few others out of the relm of posibility either, especially Wisconson or California.
Beasley is not the pure conservative that DeMint is but will attract a larger state following in the general election against Inez. I believe DeMint, who I like, will lose to Inez on lack of name recognition and on the trade issue. DB actually is a rare conservative with good support in the black community and with educators. He also has money people behind him, Roger Milliken, the Coker family, and his own family that owns Carolina Bank. DB's campaign mgr. is Carroll Campbells son. Look at the history, DB sits out all the exhaustive and expensive months of the primary while the others beat themselves up. He jumps in only last January and is immediately on the top. Brilliant strategery. I think DB can be knocked out in the runoff but mark my words, we will then have Sen Inez. Count on it. To win statewide, you need to get some black votes. DB can pull black votes from the churchgoing blacks. DeMint will be shut out in the low country and Pee Dee region and we will have Sen Inez.
Orangeburg was actually regressive. We started electing Republicans in 1986 but by 1994 the Democrats had gerrymandered the last Republican out of town, and for years, the chairman of the GOP and now the current Committee member to the state GOP is a teacher in Barnwell County. (He was my debate coach.) We have a SC State physics professor (Jennifer Cash) on the GOP side, she just came to the area and is active along with her husband Mark. Mark is a county GOP official.
I voted for Ravenel. I did not know about Beasley being a Rat in the 80s. I thought he was a conservative Christian. I am very confused now on who to vote for in the runoff. I can't stand DeMint because he voted for Nafta and SC has been hurt in the textile industry because of it. Please, anyone, educate me on Beasley/ DeMint.
DB, like W, has changed a lot over time. He has 4 little ones age 11 on down and a really nice wife. He is not a bible thumper but a strong family man. I actually think he has gained strength by his loss of the governorship. Adversity builds character. Since he has a record and is well known, his negatives will be higher than a DeMint. DB is calling for a 26% import tax on Chinese goods to offset the trade imbalance. That will hurt Walmart and mean that our ashtrays, knick knacks, and toys will go up 26%. YOu may even see some American clothing factories re-open, up in DeMint's region. I am not a protectionist at all but I know how the Chinese government controls their market. China does not operate their nation in a free market. DeMint either doesnt understand that or doesnt care. Anyway, my advice is go to each candidate's website and see where they are on details...
Jim Demint is a quiet guy who has done his job supporting conservative positions and living up to them. I'm voting for Demint, mainly because I think Beasley would be exposed by the Washington press corps as a fool, and would end up embarrassing the state.
As Governor he has taken some strong stands against video poker, moving the conferderate flag from off the dome and in the chambers to the soldiers monument, against the lottery
I can't stand DeMint because he voted for Nafta
NAFTA was passed some six years before DeMint went to Congress.
Except for the popular Hollings, SC candidates who have argued for "protectionism" have failed, haven't they? I know that Pat Buchanan's NH victory meant nothing in SC in 1996.
I was part of U.S. Rep Ravenel's Congressional staff and later part of his team in the Governors race. We all viewed David Beasley for what he was then...a quick turn-picked up by the Campbell machinery - flip flop - oportunist politician.
I still view him as 'a much like Kerry kinda guy' on any issue and verbage. Interesting, but a RHINO.
I'll be voting DeMint in the run-off.
Van
www.jenerette.com
DeMint MUST win & the weasel's career must END. we southrons MUST teach him & every other collaborator a LESSON!
free dixie,sw
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